Ore-treating furnace.



0. 0. MEDBERY. ORE TREATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1909.

Patented May 25, 1909.

4 SHEETS-S INVENTOR.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY C. U. MEDBERY.

ORE TREATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN.1

Patented-May25 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ul m

A TTOH/i/E Y G. C. MEDBERY.

ORE TREATING PURNAOE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.15, 1909.

Patented May 25, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES 4f- 0 ATTORNEY G. C. MEDBBRY.

ORE TREATING FURNACE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.15, 1909.

922,609, Patented May 25, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

WITNESSES l/Vl/Z TOR v Alb/WM v ATTORNEY UNITED STAT CHAUNOEY 'G.MEDBERY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ORE-TREATING FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Application filed January 15, 1909. Serial No. 472,399.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHA NCEY O. MED- BERY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident of New York, county and Stateof New York, haveinvented Improvements in Ore-Treating Furnaces, of which the followingis a specification.

The rotary continuous ore treating furnace forming the subject of thisinvention comprises cylinders lined with refractory material suitablymounted at different heights and reversibly inclined, an end supportconnecting the lower end of an upper cylinder to the upper end of alower cylinder, means for rotating the cylinders, means for feeding oreto the upper end of the uppermost cylinder, and fuel su ply devicelocated at the lower end of thG lOWESt cylinder. By this arrangement ofparts the construction and operation of ore treating furnaces of thischaracter, requiring chambers sufficiently long to insure the thoroughmelting of the ore passing through them, are greatly facilitated.Considerable space is saved, as each cylinder, according to the number,need be according to the number used only proportionately as long as asingle cylindrical furnacehaving the same ore treating capacity toprovide for the necessary time of transit of the ore through the furnace;'the length of a single cylinder being also controlled by practicallimitations. It further )rovides further advantageous features, forinstance an ore that requires roasting may as continuing processes underone heating be roasted and heated in an upper cylinder or cylinders andthen smelted 1n a lower cylinder or cylinders.

Another feature of this invention lies in applying a fore-hearth toreceive the molten minerals (metal and slag) as they flow in acontinuous stream from the discharge end of the furnace; saidfore-hearth having sufficicntcapacity for the accumulation ofconsiderable metal which is drawn off from its lower part from time totime, whilethe slag flows in a continuous stream from its upper nut, andthis fore-hearth is designed to be heated by the waste heat of theproducts of combustion from the furnace, provisions therefor beingpreferably made by flues formed in the walls of. the fore-hearth.

'l heinvention further consists in the com-. bination with rotarycylinder furnaces of regenerators of suitable construction adapted to bealternately heated by the gaseous and held in place,

may be rotated at products of combustion leaving the feeding end of thefurnace, and alternately afiord passages, perature of the fuel (gas andair) as it passes to the furnace; and in a system of gates and valves inthe various pipes and passages so connected as to be simultaneouslyoperated, which may be automatically done, at suitable regularintervals.

Other novel features of construction pertaining to rotary continuous oretreating furnaces will, with the main featuresabove set forth, be nowfully described by reference had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of afurnace showing an embodiment of myinvention, with some parts broken away to show the internalconstruction; Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section; Fig. 3 isan elevation, partly in section, of the return fuel connector at therear ends of the cylinders; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of thesame; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing the discharge end of thelower cylinder and the fuel supply nozzles, taken on the line 5, 5, Fig.2; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the forehearth, in section on line 6, 6,Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the same showing a side wallbroken away; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the forward part of amodification of the invention, whereby the combined )XOCGSS of roastingand smelting ores may l)6 perfectly carried out, and Fig. 9 is a frontview of the same, partly in section.

For most purposes and general use it is thought that in place of onelong cylinder of a rotary continuous furnace two sections or two shortcylinders located one above the other, as shown in the drawings, will besuflicient.

The two cylinders a and b are supported reversely inclined, by c and (1respectively suitable roller bearings frames and bearmg carried bysupporting rings 9, c on the cylinders. shown for rotating the cylinderscons sts of gear rings f and 9 attached to the cylmders a and b andactuating gears h and i respectively, independently driven from anysuitable source of power, so that the cylinders different speeds as maybe expedient in governing the speeds of travel of the minerals throughthe cylinders; the driving gears being shown provided wlth cone pulleysj, k for this purpose.

when heated, to raise the tem The means The front ends of the cylinders,that is the high end of the cylinder a and the low end of the cylinder1; are fitted to rotate in a front frame Z, and the rear ends of thecylinders, that is the low end of the cylinder 0.

and the high'end of the cylinder 11 are fitted to rotate in the frame mof the return flue connector n of the cylinders.

Side passages in the front frame Z afford communication between thechambers into which the front ends ofthe cylinders open and are filledwith checker work, constituting the regenerators, and each passage is bya vertical wall 0 divided into two parts 1) I and 9, thus forming a pairof regenerators at each side of the furnace, the parts p providingpassages for the air and the parts assages' for the gas of the gaseousfue he an and gaspassages although shown of equal size in the drawin smay, as will be well understood, be made 0 different capacities.

' An air supply pipe 7 by branches 8, 8 connects with t e upper ends ofthe passages p of the regenerators, and a gas pipe t, by

branches u connects with the upper ends of the passages q. The air andgas ass from the regeneratorsinto the mixing c amber 'v and issuetherefrom by the nozzle 'w into the discharge end of the lower cylindervb.

The regenerator passages continue down-.

wardly into dust collecting pockets :0, 2:, closed by doors y, and justabove these pockets are'side openings 2 through which the heated gaseousroducts of combustion esca e after passing t rough the regenerators.

T e fore-hearth 1 is rectangular. in shape,

is ada ted to fit between the lower part of the si e legs of the frontframe, and IS'PIO- vided with wheels 2 restingl on rails, whereby 4 thefore-hearth is full; the metals being drawn. off, from time to time, atthe spout 6 located at the lower part of the fore-hearth,

' and plugged in the usual manner.

Thefore-hearth consists of a metal fee- I tangular casing lined atthe-sides and bottom with a refractory material rovided with ihorizontal passages .7, 7, t e upper and second passages being connectedby vertical openings 8, 8, the second and third by openings 9, 9, thethird and fourth b openings 10, 10, and so on to the hollow ottom 11,which by a central opening and connecting pipe 12 communicates with adischarge flue 13 when the fore-hearth is set in operative controlling te flow of the gas.

position. The passages 7, 7 are divided by vertical partitions 14, 14.The upper passages 7, 7 have two openings 15, 15 at each side of thefore-hearth which aline with the openings z, z in the chamber at thelower ends of the re enerators, so that heated products of com ustionfrom the cylinder a,

- alternately flowing through the regenerators,

will pass alternately through the openings 1g, 15 at the two sides ofthe fore-hearth into t .0 and ow right and left through all thehorizontal passages and finally escape through the opening andconnecting pipe 12, there keeping the fore-hearth heated, to maintainthe minerals therein in a molten condition, sufficiently intense thatwith the large capacity of the fore-hearth will insure a completeprecipitation of 'all of the values or metals from the molten mass.

Ore is'continuo'usly fed to the high end of the cylinder a from thehopper 16 by any suitable means, as a screw conveyer' 17. In

lppl' passages 7, 7, where they dividethe air and gas pipes and at thecommuni- {cations between the various'flues and passages are locatedgates or valves to direct .the flow of the air' and as and the heatedproducts of combustion from the cylinder a alternately to the two pairsof regenerators. Theair pipe has a valve 18 adapted to cause the air toow through either of the branches 8 and the gas ipe has a valve 19 forsimilarly In the branches 8 and u of .the air and as pipes are checkvalves 20 and 21 to cut oil the regenerators from the supply pipes andtheir controlling valves. At the sides of the chamber intowhich theupper end of the cylindera opens are shown sliding gates or valves for cosing communication between saidchamberand the upper end of thereenerators, and below t e regenerators are i ocated pivotal valves 23,23 whosejfunctions are to close the o enin s to the mixing chamber 12through w ich the heated air and gas flow and to close connnunicationbetween the regenerators and the fore-hearth. In the operation of thefurnace these gates or valves are reversely set at the two sides of thecylinders, as shown at Fig. 2, that is the air and gas valves 18 and 19are set to allow the gases to enter the regenerators at the left hand,the check valve 20 at this side being also 0 ened, the. ate 22 is closedand the pivota valve 23 1s set horizontally to cut off 7 communicationto the fore-hearth and 0 en the mixing chamberof the burner noze to thepair of regenerator-s. At the right hand the pair of regenerators isopen to the upper cyhnder a, the gate 22 being raised, the air and gasvalves 18 and 19 and the check valves 20, 20 closed, and the pivotalvalve 23 set vertically so as to cut off the burner nozzle w and opencommunication between the cylinder a and the fore-hearth the heat of I,

through the regeneretors at the side of the furnace. After the furnacehas been run with the valves &c. set as just described'for o fixedinterval of time, to properly heat the left hand air of regenerstors,the positions of all of th s valves (lac. are then reversed to heat upthe left hand regeneretors and cause the air and gas to flow through theright hand regeneretors, and as it is advantageous to move all thevalves &o. simultaneously suitable connecting and operating devices areshown, consisting of e sprocket Wheel 2 4, which may he motor driven butis shown with en operating handle, a chain con necting this Wheel to esprocket Wheel 26 on a shaft located at the upper part of the furnece,rocks and pinions 27, 27 for operating the ates 22, 22, chains 28, 28connecting the sliafts of these pinions to the shaft of the sprocket 26,links 29, 29 pivoted to the upper ends of the gates 22, 22, and the onus30, 30 on the shaft of the pivotal valves 23, 23, a link 31 joining theupper end of one of the gates 22 to the end of on arm 32 connected tothe shaft of a pinion 33, another arm 34 on this shaft connected to thearm of one of the valves 20 by a link 35, it link 36 connecting the armof this valve 20 to the arm of the other errn 20, and a segmental gear3'7 on the shaft of the-valves l8 and 19, and into which meshesthepinion 33.

The connector M et the rear ends of the cylinders a and b with thereturn flue n is supported by a suitable frame 38, ell of its innerexposed surfaces of the upper part are covered by a refractory materialand its lower port, "which constitutes e. chute 39 to direct, the ore asit falls from the upper cyiinder a into the lower cylinder 7), is ofnaetel end adequately Water jacketed, the inlet end outlet pipescontrollin the writer su thereto heiog" indicated at 40 end &1. eve thechute 39 is on opening 42, covered loy door, for the inser"'ion of s,down tool to cleer the chute should it hee l end ehovethis opening 42 ise. orpe 43 to t o the lower end of e upper c il a: 1 ii) coed that ofthe time of its trensit through the smelting cylinder then it isproposed incrchse the length of the upper cylinder, which may he done inthe manner shown at Figs. 8 and 9,-Which illustrates the necessarymodifications in the construction of the front end of the furnace, theresr end end ell essential features being as heretofore shown anddescribed. The upper end of the elongated cylinder 46 rotates in upperpert 27 of the front frerne Z, which is supported by standard frames 48,48; the regenerntors in this cese have their upper parts 49, 49'orrsnged horizontally end by curved hends communicate with burner at thelower end of the lower'cylinder end the foreheerth. All of the valvesetc. and parts similar to those described and shown in the otherdrawings ere correspondingly designated, and their operations similar,so it further reference to them is unnecessary.

I claim as my invention l. The combination With s rotery cylinderfurnace, menus for feeding ore thereto at one end and means forsupplying a gnseous fuel at the other end, of regenerntors throngh whichthe "roduc'ts of coinhustion from the cylinder furnace end the gaseousfuel, sir end gas, alternately pass, and n fore-hearth also heated bythe products of combustion and into which flow the melted miner-sis fromthe furnace.

2. The combination with e rotery cylinder furnace, means for feeding orethereto at one end end insane for supplying; s gaseous fuel st the otherend, of two pnirs of regeneretors locsted at the feeding end of thefurnace cl ternetely heated by the products of cornhustion from thefurnace elternnteiy irnporting their hestto the sir end gee of the fuelsuppiied to the furnace, end n for hesrth tor receiving the illltfiminer from the and adapted. to he hosted '1" L i my the pro comnustion.

3 The io with n ter cylinder hirnsce, in end .rne

at the oti eding; ore reto at one rep eneretore rince to theregenerators, and means for simultaneously unionally actuating all ofthe gates or valves. v J 4. The combination with a rotary cylinderfurnace, means for feeding ore thereto at one end and means forsupplying a gaseous fuel at the other end, a fore-hearth into'which themolten minerals from the furnace run, and a flueor passage for directingthe products of combustion from the furnace to the forehearth.

5. A fore-hearth for receiving molten minerals from an ore treatingfurnace having as sages formed in its walls through W ich heated gasesmay be caused to pass, a spout at the upper part for the continuousdischarge of the s ag and a spout-at the lower part for drawing ofl themetals.

6. A movable fore-hearth for receiving molten minerals from a furnacehaving passages formed in its walls with inlet openings at the upperpart and an outlet opening at the lower part, in combination w th a flueadapted to connect with and direct heated gases to the inlet openingsand a discharge pipe adapted to connect with the outlet opening when thefore-hearth is set in operative position. v

7. A movable fore-hearth for receiving molten minerals from a furnacehaving a series of horizontal passages vertically. connected atdiflerent arts formed in its walls and bottom withi et openings at theupper part and an outlet opening at the lower part,

in combination witha flue adapted to connect with and direct heatedgases to the inlet openings and a discharge pipe ada ted to connect withthe outlet opening when the fore-hearth is set in operative position.

8. An ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at the lowend of the lower one, and a return flue connector joining the low end ofthe upper cylinder and the high end of the lower cylinder and having aguide chute over which the ore passes from the upper to the lowercylinder, and a barring down opening above the chute.

. 9. An ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at-the lowendof the lower one, and a return flue connector pro- I 'vided with awater jacket at the lower part and joining the low end of the u per 0linder and the high end of the lower cyhndert rou h which the ore passesfrom the upper to t e lower c linder. f

10. n ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at the lowend of the lower one, and a return flue connector provided with a waterjacket at the lower part and joining the low end of the upper cylinderand the high end of the lower cy i der throu h which the. ore passesfrom the upper to t e lower cylinder, said return flue connector havinga barring down opening above the water jacket.

11. A movable fore-hearth for receiving molten minerals from a furnacehavinga series of horizontal passages vertically'i com nected atdifferent parts formed in its walls .and bottom with inlet-openings atthe upper part and an outlet opening at the lower part,

in combination with a flue adapted to connect with and direct heatedgases to the inlet openings and a discharge pipe ada ted to connect withthe outlet opening whent eforehearth is set in operative position, incombination with a stationary arch hood over the fore-hearth and aburner nozzle passing through the end wall of the hood for applying heatto the surface of the contents of the fore-hearth.

12. The combination with two rotary furnace cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the upper cylinder, means for su plying a gaseous fuel tothe low end of the ower cylinder, of regenbustion from the cylinderfurnace and the gaseous fuel, airand gas, alternately pass, a

return flue connector havin suitable openings in which the. ends of t ecylinders rotate, a water jacket at the lower part of the return flueconnector, and a nozzle passing through the return flue connector adated to supply a stream of gas to the lower en of the upper cylinder.

13. The combination with two rotary furnace cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the uppercylinder, means for su plying a gaseous fuel to thelow end of the ower cylinder, of regenerators through which the productsof combustion from the cylinder furnace and the gaseous fuel, air andgas, alternately pass, a return'flue connector havin suitableopenings inwhich the ends of t e cylinders r0- tate, a water jacket at the lowerpart of the return flue connector, and a nozzle passing through thereturn flue connector ada ted to supply a stream of gas to the lower enof the upper cylinder, a peep hole located near the nozzle, and abarring down hole located above the water jacket.

14. An ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the up er one, means'for supplying a. gaseous fue at the lowend of the lower one, a return :flue conass-ens n'ector join'in the lowend of theupper cylinder and theli through which the ore passes from theupper to the lower cylinder, a front frame in which the other ends ofthe cylinders are fitted to rotate, a fore-hearth located beneath thelow end of the lower cylinder and heated by the gaseous products ofcombustion discharged from the high end of the upper cylinder, means forsupporting and means for independently rotating the cylinders 15. An oretreating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclined andarranged one higher than the other, means for feeding 1a ore to the highend of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at the low endof the lower one, and a return flue connector joining the low end of theupper cylinder and the high end of the lower cylinder through which theore passes from the upper to the lower cylinder, a front frame in whichthe other ends of the cylinders are fitted to rotate, means forsupporting and means for independently rotating the cylinders,regenerators in the front frame through which the gaseous roducts ofcombustion from the upper cy inder are by suitable valves caused toalternately pass, and through which, as the become alternately heated,the gaseous fue is causedoto flow before it enters the lower end of thelower cylinder.

16. An ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at the lowend of the lower one, and a return flue connector joining. the low endof the upper c linder and the high end of the lower cylin er throu h 40which the ore passes from the upper to t e lower cylinder, a front framein which the other ends of the cylindersare fitted to r0 tat-e, meansfor supporting and means for independently rotatln the cylinders, twopairs of regenerators in t e front frame affording communication betweenthe two cylinders,

' gas and air supply pipes, a mixing chamber at the lower end of thelower cylinder, valves or gates in said pi es and at the ends of theregenerators by t e manipulation of which the hot gaseous roducts ofcombustion from the upper cylin er and the air and gas of the fuel arecaused to alternately pass.

17. An ore treating furnace comprisin 5 5 two cylinders reverselyinclined and arrange one higher than the other, means for feeding ore tothe high end of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at thelow end of the lower one, and a return flue connector (30 joining thelow end of the upper c linder and the high end of the lower c lin erthrou h which the ore passes from t e upper to t e lower cylinder, afront frame in which the other ends of the cylinders are fitted torotate, means for supporting and means for inigh end of the lowercylinder dependently rotating the cylinders, two pairs of regeneratcrsin the front frame affording communication between the two cylinders,gas and air supply pipes, a miXin chamber at the lower end of the lowercylin er, valves or gates in said pipes and at the ends of theregenerators by the manipulation of which the hot gaseous products ofcombustion from the upper cylinder and the air and gas of the fuel arecaused to alternately pass, and dirt discharge openings at the lowerends-of the regenerators.

18. An ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arrange one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehighe'nd of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at the lowend of the lower one, "and a return flue connector joining. the low endof the upper c linder and the high end of the lower cylin er throu hwhich the ore passes from the upper to t e lower cylinder, a front framein which the other ends of the cylinders are fitted to rotate, means forsupporting and means for independently rotating the cylinders,regenerators in the front frame through which the gaseous products ofcombustion from the upper cylinder are by suitable valves caused toalternately pass, and through which, as they becomealternately heated,the gaseous fuel is caused to flow before it enters theilower end of thelower cylinder, and a fore-hearth for receiving molten minerals,provided with heating passages in communication with the regenerators toreceive the heated gases after they flow through the regenerators.

19. An ore treating furnace comprising two cylinders reversely inclinedand arranged one higher than the other, means for feeding ore to thehigh end of the upper one, means for supplying a gaseous fuel at the'lowend of the lower one, and a return flue connector joining the low end ofthe upper c linder and the high end of the lower cylin er throu h whichthe ore passes from the upper to the 110 lower cylinder, a front framein which the other ends of the cylinders are fitted to ro-' tate, meansfor supporting and means for independently rotating the cylinders,regenerators in the front frame through which the gaseous products ofcombustion from the upper cylinder are by suitable valves caused toalternatel pass, and through which, as they become a ternatel heated,the gaseous fuel is caused to flow efore it enters the lower end of thelower cylinder, a fore-hearth into which the molten minerals flow fromthe lower 0 linder and provided with passages 1n its wal incommunication with and to receive the heated gases from theregenerators, and a nozzle above the fore-hearth for supplying fuel tomaintain the upper part min;- erals mthe fore-hearth in a moltencondition.

20. The combination with a rotary cylin- 139 *de'r furnace, means forfeedin ore thereto at one end and means for supp ylng a gaseous torslocated at the feeding end of the alternately heated by the productsofcomfuel at the other end of regenerators throu h which the products ofcombustion from t e cylinder furnace and the gaseous fuel, air and as,alternately pass, and a fore-hearth also eated by the products ofcombustion and into which flow the melted minerals from the furnace, anda burner nozzle for sup lying fuel above the fore-hearth to maintain thesurface of the molten mineral therein in a molten condition.

' 21. The combination with a rotary cylinder furnace, means for feedingore thereto at one end and means for supplying a gaseous fuel at theother end, of two pairs'of re eneramace bustion from the furnace andalternately impartingtheir heat to the air and as of the fue su plied tothe furnace, an a forehearth or receiving the melted minerals from thefurnace and adapted to be heated by the products of com-bustion, adischarge s out at theupper part of the fore-hearth for t e continuousflow of the slag therefrom, and a CHAUNCEY C. MEDBERY.

Witnesses l I J. O.'MOK'IBBIN,

JAMEs A. HUDEN.

